Leading educators from China visit Wintec

Visiting Chinese education leaders experienced the Design Factory NZ at Wintec where students use design thinking to solve industry problems.

Senior leaders from 10 leading Chinese vocational education institutions met at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) last week to find inspiration in the way teaching and learning is delivered.

The delegates are in New Zealand for two weeks to learn about our vocational education system and upgrade their knowledge and skills as part of the New Zealand China Vocational Education and Training Model Programme.

Wintec Chief Executive, David Christiansen says overseas training programmes play an important part in the development of professional and vocational education in China and are part of the Chinese government’s decision to accelerate the modernisation of its professional and vocational education and training.

“The Model Programme vision is to establish model institutes of technology in China and to assist the Chinese to educate and train their future workforce.

“Wintec is delighted to once again host a Vocational Education Leadership Training (VELT) delegation from China.  These delegations, led by the China Education Association for International Exchange, provide a chance for us to build strong relationships and learn from each other.”

Christiansen says the leaders have an interest in how New Zealand’s vocational education sector engages with and adapts itself to meet the needs of industry and the wider community. They also want to understand how to develop their students critical and creative thinking to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship in China.

A highlight of their visit this week was workshop at the Design Factory NZ where students from a variety of study disciplines work with industry partners to solve problems using design thinking.

 Wintec is home to New Zealand’s only Design Factory, part of the global Design Factory network.

The Vocational Education Leadership Programme (VELT) is sponsored and supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Education New Zealand.

This is the third year VELT delegates have visited New Zealand. The approval of New Zealand as a destination was a direct outcome of Wintec’s leadership of the Sino-NZ Model Programme.  Wintec has led this programme on behalf of Education New Zealand since 2014.

The delegation are in New Zealand for two weeks from 3-16 November. The first week of the programme is at Wintec followed by a week in Dunedin at Otago Polytechnic.

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